Thesis: The Taliban's origin comes from the Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan war.
Soviet Union's Withdrawl
Once the Soviet Union left Afghanistan the Civil War started. When the Soviet Union was leaving, Afghani rebels were still attacking them as they left killing around 523 Soviets. The Soviet was officially out by February 1989. The mujahideen resisted Najibullah's control, so they can stop communism. The Taliban at first wanted to keep Afghanistan safe and under their control, to be able to restore it after the Soviets left. There were refugees which posed a threat to the Taliban. The Taliban wanted to enforce it's ways of governing and controlling Afghanistan, so they took things to the extreme. This is when the Civil War really initiated in Afghanistan.
The United States and Saudi Arabia joined together and funded the training of the mujahideen ("freedom fighters"), which were trained in northern Pakistan. During the 1980s over 90,000 Afghans were trained by the Pakistan's ISI to fight off Communism and intercept the USSR from gaining access to the Indian Ocean. The US alone spent over 3 billion dollars on training and equipping the Taliban with weapons. The president of Pakistan chose Akhtar Abdur Rahman to be the general of the Taliban.
This picture shows the mujahideen gaining goods funded by the United States and Saudi Arabia
Taliban Timeline 1979 December - Soviet Red Army invades and props up communist government.
1980 - Babrak Karmal installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops. But anti-regime resistance intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces. US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms.
1985 - Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces. Half of Afghan population now estimated to be displaced by war, with many fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan.
1986 - US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. Babrak Karmal replaced by Najibullah as head of Soviet-backed regime.
1988 - Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops.
Red Army quits
1989 - Last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah.
1992 - Najibullah's government toppled, but a devastating civil war follows.
Najibullah with Soviet soldiers, 1986
President Najibullah (centre) headed the Soviet-backed regime 1996 - Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations.
1997 - Taliban recognised as legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They now control about two-thirds of country.
Taliban Leadership
Mullah Mohammed Omar:
Leader, Founder and Commander of the faithful "Amir-Al-Munineen" and head of the Supreme Council of the Taliban
Part of the Mujahadeen, served as deputy commander in Kandahr, Zabul, Herat, and Farah for the group Harakat-Inqilab-I-Islami (Islamic Revolution Movement)
Generally viewed as the final authority in the loosely constructed Taliban Hierarchy
Omar is a Pashtun from Kandahar
Mullah Mohammed Rabbani:
In power from 1994-2001
Deputy Chief of Taliban Movement
Chairman of Supreme Ruling Council
Second in command behind Omar
Outside support aside from Omar
Pashtun from the Kakar tribe
The "Warm" Welcome of the Taliban and their true face:
The Taliban had first shown it's face in the 1990s in Kandahar as the made their way up to Kabul they always had the same 'characteristics :
The Taliban's original goal was said to be reuniting the Afghans after the Soviets had left their country with no hope. The Taliban, however, really ended up doing just the opposite. The had shown themselves first in Kandahar with the promise to the people of making their country a better place.
Flaws that they had would soon be exposed as after they had ruled, they as the new government forced many people to give up their rights, the biggest victim of this being the women in Afghanistan as they had to give up their education right and their right to walk around in public without being almost completely covered from head to toe.
They did not want any Hazaras to participate and looked down on who followed the Shia religion.
They publicly punished those who broke their rules which sooner than later shown light on their real cause of taking over the nation, to oppress others and try to force their beliefs on every individual of the public.
An example of how the Taliban as a government kept it's system in order is the used of a "Religion Police" who would publicly harm an individual if they saw that the individual was going against the Sharia's laws.
The main purpose of the Taliban was to have a country completely under the control of only one religion.
People had in the beginning been so willing to be under the Taliban's power because of the false promises of peae that they had made after all the fighting and the Muslims who had weapons that seemed to pose a threat to their country.
Recruiting:
The recruiting of the Taliban was mostly based around their belief in their religious rules, those who were recruited were mainly recruited into the group in mosques.
Main purpose of group is to dictate others into following Islamic laws.
The Recruits were to provide exposure of the laws in public places, to publicize what this new order would do for the nation always in a positive way.
The Final Result:
The Taliban had originally won over the trust and took over Kandahar and then further marched on and totally took over Kabul in September 1996 under their rules.
Here is a small video that shows how Afghanistan was changed by the Taliban. Before and after pictures, stop before 2001- present. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpy2rzMVQBQ
NEW LAW
The Taliban's new laws were based on the fundamentalist interpretation of Islam (Sharia*) as well as old tribal customs
* Moral code and religious law of Islam
The Taliban completely ban music, TV, Internet, keeping birds (unislamic), kite flying (traditional sport), non-religious books, celebrations ( for example New Years and weddings).
Public laughing, shouting or clapping at outside events
Men must : cut their hair short grow their beards long wear Islamic clothing wear Islamic turban or cap pray five times a day not engage in homosexual behavior provide for their women
The law concerning women in Afganistan was very strict. The Taliban wish to make a secure environment for their women where their chasteness and dignity may be sacrosanct by means of purdah*.
*Purdah is the practice of isolation of woman from public observation.
Non Muslims must wear a yellow badge to differentiate themselves (mostly Hindu minority)
Founding Formerly, the Taliban funded itself though the revenue of poppy (ingredient in opium) and support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Moreover in 80’s the US trained and equipped Taliban against the Soviet Union. Connections to the Book These include when Rahim Khan isat the soccer game and is assulted by the Taliban agent. Also when Khan tells Amir about how the people celebrated in the streets after the Taliban took over. Amir sees them when he goes into Kabul with Farid.
Ghazi Stadium in Kabul
Burqas
Interesting Facts
1. When the Taliban took control they banned things they deemed to be "unclean". These include satellite dishes, cinematography, equipment that produces music, pool tables, chess, masks, alcohol, tapes, computers, VCRs, television, wine, lobster, nail polish, firecrackers, statues, sewing catalogues, pictures and Christmas cards
2. The Taliban produces 73% of the worlds opium.
3. The Taliban was only recognized as a government by three other countries (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates) mainly due to their lack of knowledge in foreign policy.
Three Important Facts of our presentation: 1. All of the Taliban's rules and restrictions they had placed on the people were viewed by them as being right as they had taken them from their religion.
2. The book shows us how Afghanistan had once been, peaceful, without the fear of death. We read however later in the book of how the Taliban has its negative affects on the country but at the same time their peaceful beginning and how the people were originally unafraid.
3. Pay attention to the timeline that is done previously to identify when these events did happen and the order that they had occurred.
Thesis: The Taliban's origin comes from the Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan war.
Soviet Union's Withdrawl
Once the Soviet Union left Afghanistan the Civil War started. When the Soviet Union was leaving, Afghani rebels were still attacking them as they left killing around 523 Soviets. The Soviet was officially out by February 1989. The mujahideen resisted Najibullah's control, so they can stop communism. The Taliban at first wanted to keep Afghanistan safe and under their control, to be able to restore it after the Soviets left. There were refugees which posed a threat to the Taliban. The Taliban wanted to enforce it's ways of governing and controlling Afghanistan, so they took things to the extreme. This is when the Civil War really initiated in Afghanistan.
Taliban's Creation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ylFTAYdvnc
0:00-1:00 and 3:00-4:00 are the most important parts on the creation of the Taliban.
The United States and Saudi Arabia joined together and funded the training of the mujahideen ("freedom fighters"), which were trained in northern Pakistan. During the 1980s over 90,000 Afghans were trained by the Pakistan's ISI to fight off Communism and intercept the USSR from gaining access to the Indian Ocean. The US alone spent over 3 billion dollars on training and equipping the Taliban with weapons. The president of Pakistan chose Akhtar Abdur Rahman to be the general of the Taliban.
Taliban Timeline
1979 December - Soviet Red Army invades and props up communist government.
1980 - Babrak Karmal installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops. But anti-regime resistance intensifies with various mujahideen groups fighting Soviet forces. US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms.
1985 - Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces. Half of Afghan population now estimated to be displaced by war, with many fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan.
1986 - US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships. Babrak Karmal replaced by Najibullah as head of Soviet-backed regime.
1988 - Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops.
Red Army quits
1989 - Last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah.
1992 - Najibullah's government toppled, but a devastating civil war follows.
1996 - Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations.
1997 - Taliban recognised as legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They now control about two-thirds of country.
Taliban Leadership
The "Warm" Welcome of the Taliban and their true face:
The Taliban had first shown it's face in the 1990s in Kandahar as the made their way up to Kabul they always had the same 'characteristics :
The Taliban's original goal was said to be reuniting the Afghans after the Soviets had left their country with no hope. The Taliban, however, really ended up doing just the opposite. The had shown themselves first in Kandahar with the promise to the people of making their country a better place.
Recruiting:
The recruiting of the Taliban was mostly based around their belief in their religious rules, those who were recruited were mainly recruited into the group in mosques.
The Final Result:
The Taliban had originally won over the trust and took over Kandahar and then further marched on and totally took over Kabul in September 1996 under their rules.
Here is a small video that shows how Afghanistan was changed by the Taliban. Before and after pictures, stop before 2001- present.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpy2rzMVQBQ
NEW LAW
- The Taliban's new laws were based on the fundamentalist interpretation of Islam (Sharia*) as well as old tribal customs
* Moral code and religious law of IslamMen must :
cut their hair short
grow their beards long
wear Islamic clothing
wear Islamic turban or cap
pray five times a day
not engage in homosexual behavior
provide for their women
The law concerning women in Afganistan was very strict. The Taliban wish to make a secure environment for their women where their chasteness and dignity may be sacrosanct by means of purdah*.
*Purdah is the practice of isolation of woman from public observation.
PUNISHMENTS
- Amputating hands for theft
- Stoning
- Shooting
- Whipping
- Hanging
Founding
Formerly, the Taliban funded itself though the revenue of poppy (ingredient in opium) and support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Moreover in 80’s the US trained and equipped Taliban against the Soviet Union.
Connections to the Book
These include when Rahim Khan isat the soccer game and is assulted by the Taliban agent. Also when Khan tells Amir about how the people celebrated in the streets after the Taliban took over. Amir sees them when he goes into Kabul with Farid.
Interesting Facts
1. When the Taliban took control they banned things they deemed to be "unclean". These include satellite dishes, cinematography, equipment that produces music, pool tables, chess, masks, alcohol, tapes, computers, VCRs, television, wine, lobster, nail polish, firecrackers, statues, sewing catalogues, pictures and Christmas cards
2. The Taliban produces 73% of the worlds opium.
3. The Taliban was only recognized as a government by three other countries (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates) mainly due to their lack of knowledge in foreign policy.
Three Important Facts of our presentation:
1. All of the Taliban's rules and restrictions they had placed on the people were viewed by them as being right as they had taken them from their religion.
2. The book shows us how Afghanistan had once been, peaceful, without the fear of death. We read however later in the book of how the Taliban has its negative affects on the country but at the same time their peaceful beginning and how the people were originally unafraid.
3. Pay attention to the timeline that is done previously to identify when these events did happen and the order that they had occurred.
BIBLIOGRAPHY :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12024253
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB295/Taliban_Structure.pdf
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/afghanistan604/who.html
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/asylum/european-asylum-support-office/bz3012564enc_complet_en.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11451718
http://www.rawa.org/index.php